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चम्पा [Champa]
लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटाको नेपाली सामाजिक उपन्यास
49 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
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276 people want to read
About the author
Laxmi Prasad Devkota
33 books265 followersLaxmi Prasad Devkota is a Nepali poet. Devkota is considered the greatest poet of Nepali language—he has been given the title of "Maha Kavi" ("The Great Poet") of Nepali language. Devkota was born into a Brahman family as the third son of Pandit Til Madhav and Amar Rajya Laxmi Devi. He was born in Dilli Bazar, Kathmandu on the day of Dipawali, the Festival of Lights, which is a celebration of Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth. His name literally means a gift "Prasad" from the goddess of wealth "Laxmi". His family was never financially well-off.
Devkota studied science at Tri Chandra College in Kathmandu. After completing the intermediate level studies at Tri Chandra College, he enrolled in Humanities and that was when he began to read English poetry. In 1931, Devkota went to Patna on scholarship hoping to study English for his Master’s degree. But because seats were not available as expected, he enrolled for the Bachelor of Law degree instead. After he received the degree, he returned back home and started to live the family life. Despite taking tuition classes to supplement his earning, sometimes for fourteen hours a day, financial problems never left him.
Devkota lost both of his parents and his very young daughter within a span of two years during mid 1930's. He fell into a depression and became a chain smoker. In 1939, his brothers put him into a mental hospital in Ranchi, India for five months. He makes references to his experience in the lunatic asylum in his famous free-verse poem पागल ("The Lunatic"). After he returned to Nepal, he worked as a part of Nepal Bhasanuwad Parishad, a state organization that acted as a censorship board, and also taught at Tribhuwan University. He wrote several of his epic poetry during this time. In late 40's, dissatisfied with the Rana regime, he went into a self-imposed exile in Benaras, India, where he edited Yugbani, an opposition journal.
After the autocratic Rana regime was overthrown in 1950, he returned to Nepal and helped publish Indreni, a bilingual literary journal. Although he was constantly in severe financial hardships, he was getting wide recognition as an important figure in Nepali literature. He was appointed the Minister of Education by the first democratically elected government of Nepal in 1957. However, in 1958, he was diagnosed with cancer, and a year later, he passed away.
Laxmi Prasad Devkota was primarily a humanist who occasionally wrote from an atheistic point of view too. Given this reality, some critics have tried to line him up with Marxism or other similar politically leftist ideologies. Apparently in one of his last poems to a friend, he said "Aakhir Shree Krishna rahecha eka" ("After all, Lord Krishna seems to be the Only One"). However, there has been much intellectual skepticism about this last statement.
Devkota contributed to Nepali literature by bringing the Sanskrit tradition to its end and by starting modern romantic movement in the country. Devkota was the first to begin writing epics in Nepali literature. Nepali poetry soared to new heights with Devkota's groundbreaking and innovative use of language.
Departing from the Sanskrit tradition that dominated Nepali literary scene, he wrote मुनामदन i.e. Muna Madan (1930), a long narrative poem in popular "jhyaure" folk meter. The book received immediate recognition from the Ranas who ruled Nepal at that time. It tells the story of Madan who departs from his wife Muna to Tibet to make money. The poem deals with the themes of the hardships of journey away from home, grief of separation, longing and death. The following couplet (translated) which are among the most famous and most frequently quoted lines from the poem celebrates the triumph of humanity and compassion over any artificial hierarchies creat
Devkota studied science at Tri Chandra College in Kathmandu. After completing the intermediate level studies at Tri Chandra College, he enrolled in Humanities and that was when he began to read English poetry. In 1931, Devkota went to Patna on scholarship hoping to study English for his Master’s degree. But because seats were not available as expected, he enrolled for the Bachelor of Law degree instead. After he received the degree, he returned back home and started to live the family life. Despite taking tuition classes to supplement his earning, sometimes for fourteen hours a day, financial problems never left him.
Devkota lost both of his parents and his very young daughter within a span of two years during mid 1930's. He fell into a depression and became a chain smoker. In 1939, his brothers put him into a mental hospital in Ranchi, India for five months. He makes references to his experience in the lunatic asylum in his famous free-verse poem पागल ("The Lunatic"). After he returned to Nepal, he worked as a part of Nepal Bhasanuwad Parishad, a state organization that acted as a censorship board, and also taught at Tribhuwan University. He wrote several of his epic poetry during this time. In late 40's, dissatisfied with the Rana regime, he went into a self-imposed exile in Benaras, India, where he edited Yugbani, an opposition journal.
After the autocratic Rana regime was overthrown in 1950, he returned to Nepal and helped publish Indreni, a bilingual literary journal. Although he was constantly in severe financial hardships, he was getting wide recognition as an important figure in Nepali literature. He was appointed the Minister of Education by the first democratically elected government of Nepal in 1957. However, in 1958, he was diagnosed with cancer, and a year later, he passed away.
Laxmi Prasad Devkota was primarily a humanist who occasionally wrote from an atheistic point of view too. Given this reality, some critics have tried to line him up with Marxism or other similar politically leftist ideologies. Apparently in one of his last poems to a friend, he said "Aakhir Shree Krishna rahecha eka" ("After all, Lord Krishna seems to be the Only One"). However, there has been much intellectual skepticism about this last statement.
Devkota contributed to Nepali literature by bringing the Sanskrit tradition to its end and by starting modern romantic movement in the country. Devkota was the first to begin writing epics in Nepali literature. Nepali poetry soared to new heights with Devkota's groundbreaking and innovative use of language.
Departing from the Sanskrit tradition that dominated Nepali literary scene, he wrote मुनामदन i.e. Muna Madan (1930), a long narrative poem in popular "jhyaure" folk meter. The book received immediate recognition from the Ranas who ruled Nepal at that time. It tells the story of Madan who departs from his wife Muna to Tibet to make money. The poem deals with the themes of the hardships of journey away from home, grief of separation, longing and death. The following couplet (translated) which are among the most famous and most frequently quoted lines from the poem celebrates the triumph of humanity and compassion over any artificial hierarchies creat
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 17, 2024
कोपिला फूल्न, फक्रिन अनि चाहना अनुरुप संसार नदेखि ओइलाउनु पर्ने। कस्तो बिडम्बना! के हो फूलको अस्तित्व?
के फुल्नु, फक्रिनु मात्र एउटा कोपिलाको उपलब्धि हो त ? यो हामिलाई लाग्छ । कोपिलालाई सोध्ने साहस हामी गर्दैनौँ । हाम्रो सोच त्यहाँसम्म सायद पुग्दैन।
चम्पा एउटा नेपाली नारीको कथा हो । जीवनमा ईच्छा विपरीत समाजले भिराईदिएको वोझ वोक्ने विद्रोही चेतना भएकी एक नारीको कथा हो। फूलको बेग्लै संसार देख्ने रहर अनि कसैको सिरमा सजिनुपर्ने वाध्यता चम्पाको जीवनमा देखिन्छ।
हाम्रो पूर्विय समाजमा महिलाप्रतिको दृष्टिकोण ८० बर्ष अघि र अहिले लगभग उस्तै छ, समान छ। सामाजिक सञ्जालमा देखिने टिका-टिप्पणी देखि लिएर सामान्य चियागफबाट साभार गर्दा थाहा हुन्छ हाम्रो चेतनाको स्तर! कति पिछडिएका सोच बोकेर जीवित छौँ हामी । हालसालैका केही घटना प्रतिनिधि पात्र मात्रै हुन्।
" स्वतन्त्रताको पुरा अर्थ चम्पालाई थाहा थिएन जस्तो धेरै स्वतन्त्रताको नारा लगाउने मनुष्यहरुलाई पनि!"
" अमलेखीको माने चन्द्रशासनमा कमाराकमारीलाई थाहा नभए झैं उनलाई पनि राम्ररी थाहा थिएन।"
८० बर्ष अघि महाकवि देवकोटाका शब्दहरू हुन यी । देवकोटाको महिला अधिकारका कुरा र समाजप्रतिको दृष्टिकोण अहिले पनि सान्दर्भिक छ। समय सान्दर्भिक, सहि र परिवर्तनकारी विचार राख्ने मानिसलाई अहिले पनि पागलको संज्ञा दिन्छन् जसरी देवकोटालाई दिए !
के फुल्नु, फक्रिनु मात्र एउटा कोपिलाको उपलब्धि हो त ? यो हामिलाई लाग्छ । कोपिलालाई सोध्ने साहस हामी गर्दैनौँ । हाम्रो सोच त्यहाँसम्म सायद पुग्दैन।
चम्पा एउटा नेपाली नारीको कथा हो । जीवनमा ईच्छा विपरीत समाजले भिराईदिएको वोझ वोक्ने विद्रोही चेतना भएकी एक नारीको कथा हो। फूलको बेग्लै संसार देख्ने रहर अनि कसैको सिरमा सजिनुपर्ने वाध्यता चम्पाको जीवनमा देखिन्छ।
हाम्रो पूर्विय समाजमा महिलाप्रतिको दृष्टिकोण ८० बर्ष अघि र अहिले लगभग उस्तै छ, समान छ। सामाजिक सञ्जालमा देखिने टिका-टिप्पणी देखि लिएर सामान्य चियागफबाट साभार गर्दा थाहा हुन्छ हाम्रो चेतनाको स्तर! कति पिछडिएका सोच बोकेर जीवित छौँ हामी । हालसालैका केही घटना प्रतिनिधि पात्र मात्रै हुन्।
" स्वतन्त्रताको पुरा अर्थ चम्पालाई थाहा थिएन जस्तो धेरै स्वतन्त्रताको नारा लगाउने मनुष्यहरुलाई पनि!"
" अमलेखीको माने चन्द्रशासनमा कमाराकमारीलाई थाहा नभए झैं उनलाई पनि राम्ररी थाहा थिएन।"
८० बर्ष अघि महाकवि देवकोटाका शब्दहरू हुन यी । देवकोटाको महिला अधिकारका कुरा र समाजप्रतिको दृष्टिकोण अहिले पनि सान्दर्भिक छ। समय सान्दर्भिक, सहि र परिवर्तनकारी विचार राख्ने मानिसलाई अहिले पनि पागलको संज्ञा दिन्छन् जसरी देवकोटालाई दिए !
December 15, 2019
Although the ending of story feels incomplete (may be by intention), the story is good overall. The book being written by a great poet in Nepali literature proves he was good in writing novels as well. Its a story about a young girl champa who gets married in her early age but her husband leaves her because he dont want to die because champa was too attactive and the sexual activity would kill him. The story also potreys the nepali society and its patriarchal nature.
April 17, 2020
The prose is excellent but the characterization, at times, gets overreaching. Champa is painted colorfully, with a fine blend of humor and sincerity. For its small scope, it is a vivid, penetrating work.
January 31, 2026
The only Novel written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota does not fail in impressing the reader, immersing them into his world of social realism, although it has it's own nuances regarding the plot & characters followed by the slight lack of depth that Devkota is known for.
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September 20, 2019Read a long time ago. Short novel, the only one, by Mahakavi.
October 12, 2021
सानै उमेरमा विहे गर्ने परम्परा रहेको सामाजिक उपन्यास । चम्पा जस्को सानै उमेरमा विवाह हुन्छ र श्रीमानसँग टाढिनु पर्छ । कथा यसैको वरपर रहेको छ । देवकोटाको मनोवाद लेखनीले मन गह्रौ बनाउँछ ।
December 18, 2022
Average story from a great poet.
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June 7, 2015देवकोटालाइ महाकवि भनेरै पढियो जानियो तर उनले नेपाली साहित्य जगतमा एक उपन्यास पनि दिएका रहेछन "चम्पा"।सामाजिक उपन्यास पढ्नुको आफ्नै आत्मानुभुति हुन्छ।एक नारिको कथा,हाम्रै समाजको कथा परिवारको कथा छ यसमा। चम्पा जो यस उपन्यासकि नायिका हुन,विवाह पछि आफ्नो लोग्नेको घरमा घर गृहस्थि संहाल्दा भएका भोगाइले उपन्यासमा एक नारि प्रधान भन्न सकिन्छ।
May 23, 2016
विवाहलाई प्रेमको अन्त्य भन्ने पश्चिमा भनाई छ, तर प्रेमको खास सुरुवातै नहुनु पुर्वियता हो
Tyo samayako nepal ra aja pani sandarvik lagne mahila purus manobritti ra samajik chitran ramro xa.
Tyo samayako nepal ra aja pani sandarvik lagne mahila purus manobritti ra samajik chitran ramro xa.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews